Astaire leads home one-two for Kevin Ryan in Middle Park

Astaire (8/1) led home a one-two for Kevin Ryan in the Group One Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of Intense Focus, who win the Gimcrack at York, was teak-tough as he set out to make all the running under Neil Callan and tenaciously fought off stablemate Hot Streak (5/1) in the climb to the line.

Half-a-length separated the pair at the finish with Justice Day (22/1) a further length-and-a-half adrift in third.

2/1 favourite Great White Eagle was never a factor for the Aidan O'Brien team.

The winning trainer and jockey were completing the Gimcrack/Middle Park double for a second time after teaming up with Amadeus Wolf in 2005.

"He seems very tough and genuine. I've not sat on him since the Gimcrack and I said to his lad he'd grown and was a stronger horse. All credit to Kevin," Callan told Channel 4 Racing.

"He jumped and travelled good and all he was doing was looking at the camera and that's why he drifted. Each run, he's become more relaxed."

There was a sting in the tail for Callan who received a six-day ban for using his whip above the permitted level and down the shoulder in the forehand position when riding Astaire to victory in the Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes.

"Hot Streak has run five times in seven weeks and Jamie said even Giant's Causeway couldn't do that. He is unbelievably tough, consistent and improved every run.

"He's loved the ground, although he wouldn't mind any ground. He has just come back a week too quick from Ascot. But he is the second best two-year-old sprinter in the country, if not in Europe. For 42,000gns you've got to be absolutely delighted.

"He is wider than he is tall, he's got scope and can turn into a top-class three-year-old sprinter."

David Elsworth, trainer of third-placed Justice Day, said: "He will be a decent little sprinter next year - that's the plan.

"Realistically, we knew he had a little more chance than the experts said and I thought it was worth chucking our hat into the ring. He has finished a length closer to the winner than he did in the Gimcrack."